We understand the impact allergies can have on your quality of life. That’s why we offer comprehensive allergy testing and treatment solutions designed to identify allergens and provide effective relief.
Allergy Testing
Our clinic provides advanced allergy testing to pinpoint specific allergens that may be triggering your symptoms.
Testing consists of superficially “scratching” your skin with low-level doses of antigens to determine the severity of your allergies. That is done by measuring the wheel, flare and redness of the site of each allergic response. Allergic reactions will present as something like a mosquito bite with a red circle.
You will be tested for several families of allergens including foods, animal dander, trees, weeds, grasses, molds, and dust mites. The test takes approximately 15 minutes.
Staff will review the results together with you before you leave the office! Dr. Berends will provide you with a list of the allergens you tested positively for (if any), and during this same visit will discuss treatment options!
The road to relief from your allergies symptoms can start as soon as you are tested!
Allergy Shots
After you’ve been tested to pinpoint your allergies, one treatment option may be weekly injections. Allergy shots, also known as allergen immunotherapy, are a treatment option for people with moderate to severe allergies. These shots work by gradually desensitizing your immune system to specific allergens that trigger your symptoms.
Initially, you’ll receive injections containing tiny amounts of allergens, which increase over time. This process helps your body build up a tolerance, reducing the severity of your allergic reactions. This will provide long-term relief from your allergies and may even prevent the development of new allergies.
Your allergy shots will be tailored to your specific needs, and each patient’s serum is unique to their specific allergies. Shots are given once a week in the clinic and you can drop in for your weekly injection at your convenience.
Treatment regimens last one year, at which time you’ll be retested to check your progress and re-evaluate what future treatment, if any, will look like.
